FAIRPORT, NY– Looking to close out the series, the Maryland Black Bears knew they would get plenty of pushback from Rochester. After two early goals, Maryland battled and dominated the possession time late in the game. With three unanswered goals, including the overtime winner, the Black Bears claim the East Division title with a 4-3 win.
Rochester got the fast start they needed with a goal 2:37 into the period, with Keanan Dewberry getting the goal on an odd-man rush behind the Black Bears defense to make it 1-0. Less than two minutes later, Leo Mantenuto got behind the defense and cut across the crease to tuck in the 2-0 marker for Rochester. Maryland would start to wake up, creating more chances at their end of the ice, but couldn’t find the back of the net before the first intermission.
Penalties were the story of the second period, with both Maryland and Rochester having parades to the penalty box in the frame. Just before the midway point, Maryland would cash in on one of the power players with Trey Hinton getting a high redirect in the slot to cut Rochester’s lead in half. Maryland thought they had tied the game up, but they were called for goalie interference, frustrating the Black Bears and the fans who had travelled to be in attendance. Moments later, Rochester would get their two-goal lead back with Dewberry snapping a shot from the circle to make it 3-1 ahead of the second intermission.
Knowing they needed their best, Maryland dominated possession time and zone time, trying to find a way to get back two goals and push this game to extra time. While they had plenty of chances, it wasn’t until 5:56 remaining when Brady Anes picked up a loose puck at the side of the net and chipped it home to make it a one-goal game. Penalties on both sides late in the game made it 4-on-4 with under a minute remaining, as Maryland pulled Ryan Denes for the extra skater. In a scrum in front, NAHL MVP Harrison Smith picked up the loose puck and fired it home to tie the game with 25 seconds left in the period to push it to overtime.
Maryland started the overtime with half a power play, but could not covert. It wasn’t until after the penalty expired with Smith picked up the puck and ripped home the game-winner to give the Black Bears the win, the series, and the East Division crown for a third time in franchise history.
The Black Bears will head to play as part of the final four teams in the NAHL for the Robertson Cup title in Blaine, Minnesota. Stay tuned to the Maryland Black Bears social media for more information about game times and other news.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 